The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-01-12
WHAT is THE NATTER!

State from time immemorlal that as
agriculture fourishes everything
else fourishes-as agriculture Ian.
guishes everything else langulshes'
But is this true? 1t is the duty and
the pleasure of the PRoGREssIVE
| FARMER to investigate AND familiar
ize itself with the condition of u
farmers and it gives asfts deliberate
opinion, founded On extended obser-
walton and intercourse with them,
that not since 1865, \have they been
so depressed, so gloomy, so despon-
dent, so hopeless as now. And yet
when have we known our towns,
villages and cities to grow faster
when have banks made more money
when have insurance Companies
grown more rapidly-when did
railroads so large and thriving bust
ness-when were the manufacturers
on a firmer basis? Has not that
old saying failed? Almost every
week for the past year we have seen
beautiful and rose tinted pictures OF
the prosperity of the "New South
in all it's departments OF industry
but we have been careful not to
transfer them to the pages OF this
paper, for we know that SO far as
they portrayed the condition of our
farmers they were l~amentably I'M
true and deceptive. We're u in
dustries properly balanced, were
our energies property distributed,
were our growth based on sound
and healthful conditions, then our
thriving villages and towns should
be a good index to a grand prosper
ity. But let us not be deceived.
The condition of the farmers Of our
State is critical and in some sections
actually worse than it was in 1866
These are the "words of truth and
s~oberness." 1t is wise to recognize
and realize the true situation. What
is the matter? Are there any State
laws that have contributed to bring
about this sad state of affairs? Hal
the Homestead law anything to
do with it? Has the mortgage lien
system aided to bring it about?
Has the one crop system which
forces the crop to be sold at a price
barely covering the cost of produc-
ton helped to bring it about? Has
the buy-all system which exacts
from 80 to 100 per cent. interest
brought it about? What is the
matter? This is a serious question
and we hope it will enlist the ser
vices and earnest attention Of our
legislature and of the forthcoming
farmers convention.
Since writing the above we have
received a letter from an esteemed
correspondent in Rockingham coun-
ty from which we make the follow
ing extract:
"Under no healthy condition of at
fairs could such a large number of
princely fortunes as have been accu-
mulated in this country during the
last quarter of a century have been
gathered together. Towns have
built up like magic while the coun-
try has gone down. The manufact-
urer has grown rich, while the FARM
er has grown poorer.
The country is sharply divided
into two classes, the feecer and the
1eeced. The appetite Of the ~1eecer
is enormous and Unsuitable and it's
qualification has led to the rec-
ognition of the fact that the
rich are growing richer, and if the
poor are not growing poorer, they
are not lettering their condition,
which in a country with the natural
advantages of ours, is a condition
which is clearly Indicative Of an in
equality which is not warranted bv
any legitimate circumstances. FARM
ers themselves are not making anv
money and have not been for sever
al years. Most Of our crops are
being produced at an absolute loss
and while that is the fact the rail
road magnates and food adulterators
and stock spectators and money!
loaners have been steadily enlargino
their fortunes. .
1t is not the desire of any honest
nan to limit the legitimate gain of
honesty, industry and ability, but
the robbery of the many by the few